Posted on 06/11/2021 11:51:04 AM PDT by Red Badger
At 563 carats, the Star of India is the world’s largest gem-quality blue star sapphire, and is approximately 2 billion years old. (Image credit: D. Finnin/Copyright AMNH)
==================================================================
What does the legendary Star of India — a 563-carat star sapphire the size of a golf ball — have in common with a 35-million-year-old petrified redwood slab; a massive cluster of sword-like crystals that looks like it came from "Game of Thrones;" and a 5-ton (4.5-metric ton) stone pillar that can "sing?"
You can see all of them, along with 5,000 other amazing stones, in the newly renovated Mignone Hall of Gems and Minerals at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York City, which is reopening after a four-year closure on Saturday (June 12). There, one-of-a-kind precious gems appear alongside odd-looking rocks — some of which date to billions of years ago — that have been uniquely warped and twisted by extreme temperatures and pressures.
Individually and together, these objects tell a story of the diverse geologic processes that shape minerals on Earth's surface and deep inside our planet, beginning when the world was young and continuing to this day, museum representatives told Live Science.
Related: 13 mysterious and cursed gemstones
The Star of India, which formed about a billion years ago, was discovered in Sri Lanka in the 18th century. It is one of the best-known gems in the world, in part because it was famously and brazenly stolen from AMNH in 1964, along with several more of the museum's prized stones, by a pair of thieves named Jack "Murf the Surf" Murphy and Allan Kuhn, Smithsonian reported in 2014, on the heist's 50th anniversary. (The one-of-a-kind sapphire was recovered and went back on display in 1965).
(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...
They have to fly two things, the plane and the cabin. But much of what you see in the cabin is to aid in still performing the basics.
The big deal is that in a big plane, your altitude is controlled more by the power than the elevators. They do more to control your airspeed.
I’ve only done an Boeing 737 in Microsoft Flight Simulator, but it’s a *very* different feel from a Cessna single-engine prop plane.
And did I get it?
w00t!
W00t!
Some of the village names they won’t be having on that site do cause some jocularity when travelling around.
We have an “Upper and Lower Slaughter” not too far from here.
Ah...the distant sound of zeros... :)
You absolutely DID get it! Thanks!
Flying in a Cessna then, you know the term “flying by the seat of your pants.” Did you hear about the “Novocaine” test?
Good morning!
How’s that new fridge working?
May I suggest a Chap on Youthing by the name of Ashley Neal.
I know all of the parameters are different ,but there may be something of use for you. (His accent will be of interest...)
They put the “laughter” in “slaughter.”
It cracks me up that one “s” changes the meaning of the word so much.
I didn’t hear about the novocaine test. I did have an instructor pilot open his door when we were on final approach. He was trying to see if he could rattle me.
Nothing like a 30 degree change in direction when you’re 100’ off the runway to see if you can keep your concentration.
OK, there’s spam and then there’s *spam*.
I just got something with a subject of the most popular Christmas door decorations of 2020.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrZyZn5nVks
Years ago, according to this article I read, some pilots decided to test the “flying by the seat of your pants” theory to see if there was any basis to it. They had their backsides injected with Novocaine just before they took off in a single engine plane and tried to do a few maneuvers. Their reactions were much slower, and in some cases, that slowness could have caused a life-threatening situation.
The conclusion was that the cliche was based on fact, and something to do with the nerve-endings and muscles in the posterior helping to tell your legs and feet what to do.
I can’t find the article, so I can’t cite the source. It may have come from the National Lampoon for all I know. I just thought it was interesting! (Now I gotta find it!)
I’m always interested in the youthing advice of people with darling little accents.
Vlad has driven. He felt confident enough to drive home from Lake Park, unlike James.
Funny you should post that.
I’m wearing T-shirt that says, “Golly! SPAM is 70!” A vintage photo of a woman’s face in a white circle with a blue border and then “Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of American Flavor!” Also showing a can of SPAM.
No, it ain’t cheesy. I got it free for three SPAM labels, but it was 10 years ago. I’m only wearing it now because I can! I was too heavy when I first got it, so I’m happy with the loose fit! :o])
(I had to beg for the labels from my Favorite Daughter.)
“Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of American Flavor!”
Great tastes of America!
:D
Around here one often follows the other...
This image was from a page that said Spam turned 75.
Well it was invented/marketed in 1937 so they’ve got #85 coming up. I just know I love my shirt, and if I can’t get another SPAM shirt, I’ll turn this one into a pillow, soon! :o])
It kept us kids alive during some lean years, for sure! I won’t ever knock it, though I’m not as much of a fan of it as I was. It kept my son and I going for a few war years, too.
The perpetual snowflake town..
...and this one, well, by village consensus appears to be a major septic tank cleaning centre.
Do you mean there are ... Umm more indelicate names?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.